Election 2010 news

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MP676 wrote:
My guess would be that Mr Crabb is referred to by his Christian name because this wasn't written by a reporter. It reads like a press release issued by Mr Crabb and printed unquestioningly. Please correct me if I'm wrong, WT.

You're probably right, MP676. There's so much lazy journalism about – well, to be fair to the journos, they probably aren't given the time to serve the reader well – that what you posit would not surprise me at all. I know from experience that press releases come in not by the sheet by by the kilo – electronic these days, of course. When they were on paper, you had to type them up in a style to suit your paper; these days they can be copied and pasted, and it's obvious from many regional and weekly papers that little or nothing is done to question what's in them. This does not serve the reader: it just allows whoever wishes to do so to put out a gushing press release about themselves – be that a politician or a commercial concern – and it's mostly accepted, it seems, without question. I've often see claims made and have known that, if I'd been conducting an interview (and I've done hundreds in my time for newspapers and radio), I'd have made the interviewee substantiate what he or she was claiming. Sometimes I made interviewees feel uncomfortable, which just showed that they weren't sure of their convictions. Journalists should challenge. If they don't, they're just clerks."

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Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb appointed whip with responsibility for Department of Health and Cabinet Office

Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, has been appointed to serve in the new coalition as a Government whip

Stephen Crabb, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire, has been appointed to serve in the new coalition as a Government whip. The appointment was confirmed by the Prime Minister yesterday (Wednesday)
afternoon.

Stephen was offered the position a week ago and attended his first Government whips meeting on Monday in 9 Downing Street.

Whips play a key role in managing the passage of Government legislation through parliament.

Stphen said that their role will be especially important in this parliament, where no single party has an overall commons majority. He added that maintaining a stable and efficient coalition
Government will be the key priority for the whips.

Stephen will have special responsibility for Department of Health and Cabinet Office business.

As a member of the Government, Stephen will no longer be able to speak in the House of Commons with the freedom of a backbencher and cannot table parliamentary questions.

He will, however, meet regularly with ministers to discuss issues and concerns affecting people in Pembrokeshire and will personally follow-up cases with relevant ministers when acting for
constituents.

"It is an honour to be asked to serve in the Government,” said Stephen.

“I was especially pleased to be offered a position within the whips office which will play a vital role in ensuring a stable administration for our country in the months and years ahead.

“It is a hugely exciting time in British politics to join the Government although the challenges we are facing are enormous.

"While I intend to do my very best in this new role, I am absolutely clear in my mind that my work for Preseli Pembrokeshire must not suffer. I intend to pursue constituents' cases just as
vigorously as before and achieve the best possible results for local people."